Photographic-printing machine.



W. A. LENZ.

PHOTOGRAPHICPRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Au'G.2-o. 1914.

Patent-@ Apr. 4f, 19%.

W. A. LENZ.

PHO`OGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED AuG.2o, 19'14, 1 177,8 f8. Patented Apr. 4, 1916. I sIIIazrsl-SIIEET p. y

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W. A. I ENZ.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AuG.2o, 1914.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETS- SHEET 3.

P'HOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING. MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, ISIII Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. Iy/k/ v tional view showing WILLIAM A. LENZ, LEBANON, MISSOURI.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PR-INTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 191.6.

Application filed August 20, 1914. Serial No. 857,708.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lWILLIAM. A. LE'SZ, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lcbanon,'in the county of Lacledc and State of `Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in4 Ihotographic-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in photographic printing machines, and while the present invention is designed especially for handling quick work such as -kodak printing, commercial work, etc., it

will of course be understood that the machine is capable of handling the work of professional experts with facility, speed, and accuracy.

' The primary object of the invention is to improve in several particulars, the printing machines now in use', so that the machine may be used to print by either' daylight or yelectric light, and is both practical and cilicient when used by either of these lights.

The machine is constructed in a compact and practical manner so that the arrangement of parts of the machine `affords convenience to the operator and enables the operator to per- .form the work with despatch.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and claimed. y n

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as capable of use either as a daylight printer or'as an electric printer, and as shown, the invention is constructed accordingto the best modes I have so far devised for the practical application ofthe principles.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the printing machine complete, the printing frame and its back being opened for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the printing machine showing the printing frame and back closed, and the machine ready for printing. Fig. I of the printing frame Fig. 4 is a detail secf a dcvice for adjusting the back 0f the printing frame for extreme thicknesses of negatives. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the shutter and showing the weights for thi` screens and shutters. Fig. G is a view showing the sectional ruby shutters; Figs. 7 and 8 are'details of construct-ion of `printing with its back open.

lproper texture,

frame; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of contact parts.y

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings, I have shown only the essential elements of the machine, and minor details have been omitted, but it will of course be understood that all such minor details that are necessary to the proper working of the machine are brought within the scope of my invention.

Preferably the machine is supported upon the top 1 of a stand or table 2, which may be'convcniently provided witha drawer 3,

and is supported by the legsli. The frame 5, which is pivoted as at 6 to the legs, is designed to support the `two treadles 7 and S, the former being adapted through the medium. of cord 8 to open the door 9 of a light proof printing paper box 10. This door is hinged at 11, and is provided with a spring 12 which is connected to the boX, and by means of this spring Vthe door 9 is returned to closed position when the treadle 7 ispermitted to rise. The other treadle, 8, is adapted to operate a sectional ruby glass shutter indicated by the numbers 13 and 14, and a pair of cords 15 connect these two shutters and pass over 16 located within the shutter or shutter and screen case 17. The shutter section 14 has a second cord 17 passed over two pulleys 18 on the top of thc shutter case 17, and this cord is attached to the treadle 8. In this manner the downward pressure on the tfeadle 8 causes the upper sectional shutter a pair of pulleys 14 to rise, and the lower section 13 to fall l treadle 8 is released, the weight `18 serves to close the shutters.

Upon the top of the stand or table 1, the base 20 is supported, and the compartment within this base QO'forms a light chamber 2.1, which of course is light proof at all sides. The shutter and screen case 17 is superimposed directly above this light chamber, and the three screens 21', QQ, 23 are adapted to vertically reciprocate in their guides 24 fromV the case 17 to the chamber 21 and vice versa. The'three screens are each made up of suitable frames and tissue paper of and are designed for regulating the strength of light admitted to the negative while the printing operation is going on.

.26 similar to suspended window sash, and the screens are adapted to be moved by hand when desired. Another screen isindicated. at 27, and this is made preferably of ground glass, and located between the tissue paper sections and the ruby shutters,v and this screen also slides vertically in guides as 28, a weight 29 and cord 30 being employed to counterbalance this screen..

The front of the light chamben`j=2l is open, but the printing frame 3l is hinged at 32 to the bar 33 of the base, andy in this manner the chamber is closed.

In Fi g. 3, theprinting frame is illustrated on an enlarged scale, and attention is particularly called to this figure for an understandingl of the printing frame. The frame is of usual rectangular outline with the pllate glass negative or rest 32, upon which the negative is placed to be printed. At the lower end a raised bar 33 is provided which extends transversely of the frame, and is designed to prevent falling'oft of negatives, masks, prints, etc. A metallic clamp 34 on the rock bar 35 is located at the base of the frame, and this clamp is designed to hold the negatives and masks, especially when' masked extensions are being made. This clamp is operated by the thumb piece 36 on the rock bar, and .spring 37 holds'the clamp in working position. At each side of the frame a mask holder 38 is pivoted, and this holder comprises metallic straps and screws or pins 39 which act as pivots. These holders are employed during the process of printing combination pictures, or large bordered prints. In'Figs. 7 and 8, particularly, it will be seen that the frame 31 has grooves 3l at its sides for vignetters and two steel strap springs 32 for holding the same in position.

At the top of the printing frame two U V shaped straps 40, one at each upper corner of the frame, are located. IThese straps are attached to the frame bars, by pins or screws 4 1, and each is perforated for the passage ot a thumb screw 42 which has a reduced end 43 seated in a socket 44 in the frame bar,

and each thumb screw is threaded into a' metallic sleeve or' thimble 45 in a trans-- verscly extending adjustable bar 46. Between the U-shapcd strap 40 and the bar 46,

a coil spring 47 is located and this spring encircles the thumb screw 42. These two thumb screws are adapted to adjust this transverse bar 46 relatively to the printing frame 31. By using the thumb screws 42 the bar 46 is moved through its connect-ion with the thumb screw by the threaded sleeves 45, and when the thumb screws are properly turned the bar may be moved away from the frame to compress the springs 47. Turning the screw in the opposite direction These screens are counterbal-I anced by means of weights 25 and the cords :emmer/e will move the bar 46 toward the frame.- The sectional back 48 to the frame is hinged at' 49 to this adjustable bar 46, and in Fig. 3,4 it will be noted that the bar 46 has a coil spring 50 attached thereto and the arm 51 70 and chain 52 connect this spring with the block 53 on the back 48. By means of this. spring 50, the back is held up away from the frame 3l. i

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seenthat the printing frame is held in locked position by means of a spring latch 54 which is fixed to a portion of the base 20, and the latch extends through an opening 55 in the handle 56 of the back 48. By this meansthe print- 80 ing frame is locked in position, but may be immediately' released by pushing down with the thumb upon the end of the spring latch 54. l

A pair of coil springs 57, one at each side of the front of the frame are provided to automatically raise the frame 31 when it is released. Each of the springs 57 is attached at its lower end to the frame at 58, and at the upper end of each springy an eX- ytension bracket 59 which is lixed to the base 20, has a hook 60 over which the end of the spring is passed and to which it is attached. By means of these two springs the frame is automatically lifted, and to check the frame as it swings upwardly, a chain 6l is stretched across from frame 3l. to base 20, serving to hold the back in position.

A spring 56 (F ig. 2) is provided for raising the lower end of the back 48, thereby 106 forcing it to a position at right angles fromJ the frame when released.

In the drawings I have illustrated an electric lighting attachment to be used with the printing machine. This attachment includes a series of lamps of suitable number and in proper power situated in a box or casing 62. This box is open at its lower ends as at 63, and a passage 64 is pgbvided at its upper end with an outlet 65, he that-110 air currents may pass upwardly through vthe casing to ventilato thesame, and to carry oii" heat generated from the lamps in order to prevent undue heating of thel printing parts .of the machine.' in aluminum coated me 115 tallic reflector 66 is providedback of the lamps which 1s designed to increase'strength l of the light, and it will be noted that the sec:

tional shutter of ruby" glass isfin position to cut olli the light entirely fromthe light 12,9

chamber 21. The lamps as Glare of suit.u

able type and are locatedfin` desirable or proper position to most efficiently illuminate the light chamber when required. Y-

The lamps are automatically lighted. 1.25

They are'designed to be lighted of course when the printing operation is progressing,

and to this end a contact. point or switch 68 is provided within the lamp casinggvhich i is in the path oi movement of a contact piece or latch 69 carried by the upper section 14 of the ruby glass shutter. As the shutter 14 is elevated, the latch 69 is adapted to contact with the contact piece 68 and move it into engagement with a second contact point 70,'and further vmovement causes contact supply. Thuskwhen the printing is ready to begin, by pressing down upon the treadle 8, in Fig. 1, the two sections of the ruby glass shutter are separated, the lower section passing down through the opening 72 in the base 20, and the upper section rising until the point 69 contacts with the point 68 and moves this point 68 into contact with the point 70, thus completing the circuit and lighting all the lamps. Itit is desired .to inspect the negative or to remove it from the frame, the treadle 8 is first released, and the shutter sections 13 and 14 are brought together, which movement breaks the circuit and extinguishes the lamps. One of the lamps 67 is designed to be lighted as an auxiliary lamp, and for this purpose I provide a switch 73 located on the front of the screen case 17 and adapted to be oper ated by a spring pressed arm 74. This arm 74, which has a spring 74 bearing on it, is located in the path of movement of the handle 56 of the back 48, and in Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the handle '56 is thrown up and back, it presses the spring arm 74 backward in contact with the switch 73 and makes the circuit through the lamp 67, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2. In this manner an auxiliary lamp is pro# vided as soon as the printing back is raised after making an eXposure,-the light burns between exposures and provides suilicient light to work by, which is strong enough to enable the operator to see through the densest negatives and double weight papers.

A clock 75 is illustrated in Fig. 2, at the front of the printing machine which is Aconveniently located for the operator to time the exposures, and a usual spring plate 76 is employed to produce a perfect contact of negative and print between the back 48 and the frame 31. I

I have illustrated the invention as located at a window sill 77 `in Fig. 2. When the daylight is used to work by, the electric light attachment of course is omitted, and the ruby glass shutters 13 and 14 form the back wall of the base 20 and close the same. vOrdinarily in use the glass screen 27 is 'low- I ered in itsguideway 28, and this ground glass diffuses the light and prevents access of undue quantity 'of light to the printing frame. The ground glass screen 97 also serves to insulateV and shut lout the heat of the electric lamps, from the light chamber of the printing machine,k and confines the heat in the electrical attachment case.

In actual operation, the trcadle 7 is pressed upon to open the lid 9 of the printing paper box 10, and a sheet of printing pa.- per is secured by the operator from the boX. The printing paper, assuming the apparatus to be in the position in Fig. 1, is placed face down upon the negative on. rest The position of the paper may be determined by the light 67, which it will be remembered is burning, and ai'ter the negative and paper are placed in proper position, the back 48 is pulled down by its handle 56 and -with one stroke the printing frame and back are pulled down and pushed against the base of the light chamber and the handle 56 is automatically locked, holding the printing frame in position, I The operator now presses down upon thetreadle 8. This action separates the two sections 13 and 14 of the ruby glass shade or shutter, and lights the electric lamps as described;y When the desired number of seconds ior exposure have elapsed, the foot is removed from the treadle 8, the shutter closes by gravity and the lamps are extinguished.l A slight pressure of the thumb unlocksl the handle from the catch 54 and the springs 57 raise the frame and back up close to the operator where it is held in position by the check chain 461. A

slight lift is now given to the back 48, and

its lifting spring 51 carries it up and holds it against the switch connection 73. This action turns on the lamp 67 and the print is then ready to be removed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the casing of a printing machine of a frame hinged thereto, an extension bracket on the casing, a spring between said bracket and frame, a back hinged to the frame, and a spring connected to the frame and to the back whereby the back may be swung relative to the frame.

2. The combination with a printing frame, of a transverse bar having a back hinged thereto, and a plurality of thumb screws engaging the'frameand threaded in said bar v-of a back, a bar hinged to said back, a

bracket on the frame and a thumb screw rotatable in the bracket and supported on the laoA iframe, said thumb screw threaded in the bar, and a spring between the bar and bracket.

5. rllhe combination with the casi-ng of a printing machine of a frame hinged thereto and a spring between the frame and easing tending` to open the frame, a foldable back hinged to the frame and comprising two Sections, a handle hinged to the upper section, and a spring between the lower section and the handle.

G. The combination with the casing of a printing machine of a frame hinged thereto, an extension bracket on the casing and a spring between the bracket and frame, a back and means for adjusting the back with relation to the frame, a handle on the back having an opening and a latch on the casing to enlarge the opening and lock the frame.

7. The combination with the easing of a printing machine of a, printing frame hinged thereto, a backhinged thereon and a handle Liz/m78 hinged to the back, of an electric lampV suitably wired, and a switch supported en the casing in the path of movement of 'the han dle, whereby when said frame/back is swung on its hinge, the lamp is lighted.

8. The combination with the casing of a printing machine of a frame hinged thereto, means to hold said frame away from said casing, a member adjustable with relation to 

